The world's largest brewer has been trying for almost a year to buy the half of Modelo that it did not already own. The Department of Justice initially blocked the deal, concerned that it would hurt U.S. beer shoppers' choices, but signed off on the combination after AB InBev agreed to sell Modelo's entire U.S. business to a wine maker, Constellation Brands Inc.

The Department of Justice announced on Friday that it has reached an official settlement with Anheuser-Busch InBev and Grupo Modelo. The deal will allow AB InBev to proceed with its $20 billion purchase of the Mexican brewer.

AB InBev, has been trying to complete a buyout of Modelo, maker of the popular Corona brand, since last June.

The Department of Justice sued to block the purchase out of concerns the deal would put too much price control in the hands of two companies, AB InBev and MillerCoors.

Beer giant Anheuser Busch has reached a deal with the Justice Department that will allow the company to purchase Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo.

AB InBev announced last June its plans to purchase the half of Grupo Modelo it did not already own for $20 billion. The federal government filed suit in January, saying the deal would drive up beer prices.

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: November 6, 2008 - Despite a shaky economy, executives of Belgian brewer InBev say they remain unshaken in their belief that the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch will proceed on schedule and be completed by year-end.

InBev CEO Carlos Brito told analysts Thursday his company is "well prepared and equipped for the challenging economic environment."

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: October 10, 2008 - Four weeks ago, analyst Jack Russo told clients to sell their shares of Anheuser-Busch, which were then trading at $66.05. He looked like a genius; the stock remains below Russo's cut-off point.

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: August 22, 2008 - The deal hasn't been signed yet, but already beer industry experts are predicting that InBev's takeover of Anheuser-Busch will provoke more mergers and acquisitions in a rapidly consolidating industry.

"The targets are obvious," says Benj Steinman, editor of Beer Marketer's Insights, of Nyack, N.Y., which conducts research and publishes reports about the industry. "It's a question of whether they can do it."

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: June 27, 2008 - Seeking to explain why Anheuser-Busch should remain independent, top executives say earnings for the next three years will be well above Wall Street estimates, thanks to the company's revised strategic plan.

These gains will be achieved in part by cutting costs and jobs -- but not by cutting assets, such as the theme parks or the packaging subsidiary, the executives said Friday.

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: June 15, 2008 - The suitor for Anheuser-Busch has sent another letter to the St. Louis brewer, and this one doesn’t sound as friendly as the “friendly combination” offer made on June 11 by the Belgian beer giant InBev.